What are my alternatives to knee replacement?
Compare nonsurgical knee arthritis care, injection choices, and selected surgical alternatives—with evidence, limits, and questions for your clinician.
Read the guide ↗Medically reviewed by Charles A. DeCook, MD ·
← All optionsEstablished care
Partial knee replacement
Replace the worn compartment. Keep suitable healthy parts.
What could it help with?
Partial replacement treats one damaged knee compartment while preserving suitable remaining structures. It is an option when the wear pattern and ligaments make both partial and total replacement reasonable choices. [1]
Who might it suit?
For: Selected one-compartment knee disease with suitable ligaments.
Not for: Arthritis across all compartments or unsuitable ligament function.
Limits and important cautions
TOPKAT compares selected patients eligible for both operations. Its findings do not apply to arthritis throughout the knee; surgeon experience and revision risks matter.
What happens, how long, and what could it cost?
- What happens
- Specialist evaluation, imaging review, shared decision-making, and preparation for an operation.
- When might I notice a change?
- Recovery and rehabilitation take time; discuss milestones rather than a guaranteed recovery date.
- How long might benefit last?
- Long-term outcome and the chance of further surgery depend on the operation, implant, and patient.
- Repeat treatment
- Ask about routine follow-up and circumstances that could require revision or another operation.
- Activity and recovery
- Obtain individualized instructions for walking aids, wound care, work, driving, and rehabilitation.
- Ask for a complete estimate
- Surgeon, implant, hospital or facility, anesthesia, rehabilitation, and follow-up.
Use this as a consultation guide. A timeline is not a guarantee; the evidence and FDA sections below remain part of the decision.
THE EVIDENCE IN CONTEXT
Established option with strict selection
Read the 1 selected references
- Beard et al.: TOPKAT ten-year follow-up ↗
Compares partial and total replacement in late-stage medial-compartment knee OA. Eligibility for both operations is essential to interpreting this comparison.
FDA status
Exact implant must be verifiedApproved or cleared implant systems exist. Your surgeon explains the exact device and risks.
Site summary of FDA information · reviewed September 19, 2026. Refer to current product labeling. This is not an FDA endorsement of this site.What do professional guidelines say?
ACR: The total-joint timing guideline is not a partial-knee candidacy rule.
Will Medicare cover it?
Medicare pays when medically necessary and coverage requirements are met.